Pumpkin4

Q: iCal won't sync from iPhone to Mac

Hi there

 

There are some similar questions here, but nothing seems to quite fit for me. iCal has stopped syncing from my iPhone to Mac, though it does the other way around, & everything else (address book, mail, apps, music) syncs both ways.

 

I'm using Snow Leopard v10.6.8. I'm not using iCloud or MobileMe, I'm just trying to keep it simple by syncing everything (other than apps) via a cable, & syncing directly to the Mac. I update everything regularly. 

 

I've already tried a no. of things: re-set the Sync Services folder (using instructions here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2481); cleaned up the calendar using Calendar cleaner, to get rid of corrupt calendar events, etc. (& there were a few, though getting rid of them didn't change anything.

 

Thanks - if you have any advice for me, could you make it step-by-step, please, as I'm only barely computer-literate.

 

Ever so grateful

 

- Debbie

Macintosh, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 6:33 PM

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Q: iCal won't sync from iPhone to Mac

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  • by Carey Marks,

    Carey Marks Carey Marks Jun 28, 2014 12:15 AM in response to rorygilmore
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 28, 2014 12:15 AM in response to rorygilmore

    This helped me also. Working the other way around whereby the iMac wouldn't transfer iCal entries into my new iPhone 5.

    Thanks. ;-)

  • by debsy999,

    debsy999 debsy999 Jun 30, 2014 12:51 PM in response to rorygilmore
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 30, 2014 12:51 PM in response to rorygilmore

    Hi rorygilmore - thanks for this.  All I did in the end was steps 5 - 7 and my calendar magically reappeared with all of the updates on my iPhone.  Fingers crossed that any future updates will happen when the phone syncs, but if it doesn't I know that all I need to do is do the 'Advanced' option.

  • by lainah34,

    lainah34 lainah34 Jul 9, 2014 12:56 PM in response to rorygilmore
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 9, 2014 12:56 PM in response to rorygilmore

    Oh my goodness after 3 days of reading forums and trying EVERYthing...rorygilmore your post was the solution

    Thank you SOOOOO much! I could just give you a virtual hug, thats how HAPPY i am!

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

     

    post from rorygilmore

    It took some time, but I found this and it worked! Whew.... This is such a common glitch you'd think Apple would have a fix for it by now. Anyway, here is what I found and it's all good now, hope it helps someone else. (Courtesy of this website:http://iphonewriter.blogspot.co.nz/2008/05/how-to-fixing-ical-iphone-sync-issues .html)

     

    "You'll know the syncing issue when you see it, because the new events you enter into the Calendar on your Apple iPhone will not appear in iCal. Said another way, you'll enter a new event into your iPhone, use iTunes to sync with your Mac (or MacBook in our case) and the new event on your iPhone will not show up in iCal. Keep trying, synch as you might, iCal and the Apple iPhone just won't get along.

     

    Here's the down and dirty fix:

    1. Open iCal and backup or export your entries. Make a note of the fie name and location, you're going to need them in a minute. Once your backup/export is completed, close the iCal application.
    2. Open Finder and remove everything inside the "Username/Library/Calendars" folder. For instance, if your username is "Joe", then move everything inside the "Joe/Library/Calendars" folder.
    3. Open the iSync application. It's located in the "/Applications/" folder. Once iSync is opened, go into the iSync Preferences (iSync -> Preferences) and push/click the "Reset Sync History" button. Then, close the iSync application.
    4. Re-Open the iCal application and Import (File -> Import) a new calendar. When prompted, use your notes from Step #1 to select the file your created earlier. Once completed, close the iCal application (you should have all of your calendar entries back.)
    5. Open the iTunes application and connect your Apple iPhone to the computer.
    6. Within the Advanced section of the Info tab for the Apple iPhone, check the box the overwrites/replaces the Calendar data on the Apple iPhone.
    7. Click the Apple/Sync button. New, modified and deleted entries should now be syncing correctly.

    That's it! You should be all set and iTunes, iCal and our Apple iPhone should all be playing nicely as friends again. We've used the exact method to repair our own Apple iPhone at least once... maybe even twice."

  • by Tensilver,

    Tensilver Tensilver Sep 10, 2014 10:52 AM in response to lainah34
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 10:52 AM in response to lainah34

    Tried this.  Unfortunately, when I got to step 6, I discovered that the "Advanced" window in my iTunes (v.11.4) only contains "replace information" check boxes for "Mail Accounts," "Bookmarks" and "Notes."

  • by capemeybe,

    capemeybe capemeybe May 21, 2015 7:41 AM in response to Pumpkin4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 21, 2015 7:41 AM in response to Pumpkin4

    Perfect! Thanks for the tip!!!

  • by Rachel Reiss,

    Rachel Reiss Rachel Reiss Jun 18, 2015 8:05 AM in response to Pumpkin4
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 18, 2015 8:05 AM in response to Pumpkin4

    rorygilmore's solution definitely works, and I've used it several times, so thank you for that! But before trying it, it's worth trying this quicker and easier fix, which sometimes works just as well:

     

    1. Open iTunes and go to the iPod/iPhone window.

    2. Click on the Info tab.

    3. Uncheck Sync Calendars. You will get a window warning you that iTunes will no longer sync calendars, an do you want to keep or remove calendars previously synced; click the "Keep Calendars" button.

    4. Sync your iPod/iPhone.

    5. After it finishes syncing, recheck Sync Calendars and sync again.

    6. Check your desktop calendar--if it added the missing iPod/iPhone calendar items, you're good to go. If not, refer back to the rorygilmore's fix.

  • by Benny D.,

    Benny D. Benny D. Sep 16, 2015 10:13 AM in response to JasonViolin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 16, 2015 10:13 AM in response to JasonViolin

    Thanks.  I'm running OS X 10.8.5 and iTunes 12 with an iPhone 6.  All of the sudden my calendar listings weren't syncing from MacBook Pro to iPhone, or from iPhone to MacBook pro.  This reset solution worked for me, though the first attempt to sync resulted in an error message.  I just unplugged the iphone from the USB cable, waited a bit and then plugged it back in.  I went to the info tab within iTunes and checked the boxes to sync calendar and contacts, and it worked.  I wasn't having issues with my contacts, by the way. 

  • by cindyfromwinston-salem,

    cindyfromwinston-salem cindyfromwinston-salem Oct 2, 2015 6:43 AM in response to rorygilmore
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 6:43 AM in response to rorygilmore

    Never too late too say thanks!  I was about to use apple/itunes  support to get this problem rectified but decided to give your instructions a try!  Thanks for saving me time and money!  Also very nice to have instructions clearly and simply laid out for those of us who are technically challenged!

  • by Rob Brownridge,

    Rob Brownridge Rob Brownridge Nov 23, 2015 12:41 PM in response to rorygilmore
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2015 12:41 PM in response to rorygilmore

    I am a bit confused by your suggestion.

     

    My problem is as follows:

    - Sync iCal --> iPhone Cal = Working

    - Sync iPhone Cal --> iCal = Not working

     

    My iPhone Cal is therefore the only one that is complete.   The iCal is NOT complete.

     

    Your instructions to backup my iCal (which is incomplete), delete my existing Library iCal info, re-import my incomplete iCal backup into iCal, and then OVERRIDE my complete iPhone with my incomplete iCal does not solve my problem - it only would make it worse.

     

    It would be better to override my incomplete iCal with my complete iPhone Cal, if possible.

  • by Axis-5,

    Axis-5 Axis-5 Nov 24, 2015 1:22 PM in response to Rob Brownridge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 24, 2015 1:22 PM in response to Rob Brownridge

    The solutions mentioned above don't seem to apply to OS X v10.11.1

     

    The Calendar app on my iPhone and my MacPro sync just fine with iCloud - but I'm having an issue with the Calendar app on my MacBookPro not updating. In the Calendar app on my MacBookPro - my iCloud calendars have an error symbol next to them - and when clicked - I get this message: "Calendar couldn’t connect to cal.me.com. Make sure you’re connected to the Internet, and then try again later." I am connected to the internet and as I stated - my iPhone and MacPro work just fine. I have gone through Apple's troubleshooting guide and nothing has worked.

     

    MacPro and MacBookPro are running OS X 10.11.1 - iPhone 5s is running iOS 9.1

     

    Any ideas on how to fix this?

  • by Axis-5,

    Axis-5 Axis-5 Nov 24, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Pumpkin4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 24, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Pumpkin4

    The solutions mentioned don't seem to apply to OS X v10.11.1

     

    The Calendar app on my iPhone and my MacPro sync just fine with iCloud - but I'm having an issue with the Calendar app on my MacBookPro not updating. In the Calendar app on my MacBookPro - my iCloud calendars have an error symbol next to them - and when clicked - I get this message: "Calendar couldn’t connect to cal.me.com. Make sure you’re connected to the Internet, and then try again later." I am connected to the internet and as I stated - my iPhone and MacPro work just fine. I have gone through Apple's troubleshooting guide and nothing has worked.

     

    MacPro and MacBookPro are running OS X 10.11.1 - iPhone 5s is running iOS 9.1

     

    Any ideas on how to fix this?

  • by Jonathan Pennington,

    Jonathan Pennington Jonathan Pennington Nov 26, 2015 5:12 AM in response to lainah34
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 26, 2015 5:12 AM in response to lainah34

    I Am having exact same problem. My iPhone (6.1.6) syncs my iCal with my new iPad but I cannot get either tosync to iCal on my iMac (10.6.8)

    i have tried iTunes to sync - doesn't work. I cannot find a wpay of storing a file from my iPad iCal or storing a file of of my iPhone calendar either.

     

    so I now have nothing on my iCal on my iMac. Any help appreciated!

    I Do not use MobileMe and my iMac is to old to show iCloud or to use it

    THanks everyone

    ALushka

  • by LindaWA,

    LindaWA LindaWA Jan 7, 2016 6:32 PM in response to lainah34
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 7, 2016 6:32 PM in response to lainah34

    Hello there,

    Thanks for this information - I was wondering if there's an alternative as all the correct data is on my iPhone, so I would like to clear the icalendar data on my iMac and replace it with the iPhone calendar data.

    Is that possible?

    Thanks,

    Linda

  • by uujjmm,

    uujjmm uujjmm Feb 24, 2016 8:50 PM in response to rorygilmore
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2016 8:50 PM in response to rorygilmore

    Thanks rorygilmore!  I had this same issue with an older iMac (2009) and an iPad 2.  iCal on the iMac wouldn't show the events that had been entered into the iPad 2.  After not finding the Users folder on the iMac's HD, did a global search and found iSync app on the external drive where Snow Leopard is installed as a boot disk.

     

    This is so whacky!  I'm in OS X 10.8.5 on the iMac but the external drive's ( connected by USB cable to the iMac) Snow Leopard had to have its iSync app reset as you'd described to get iCal to sync up properly between 10.8.5 and the iPad 2, using iTunes. 

     

    Hey Apple!  This is a close cousin to Windows running Office, where you can't eject a USB drive even though the documents were saved and closed, cuz Windows has its sticky fingers keeping that lane "open" to the USB drive, so it therefore thinks that if it's an open "lane" then it must be in use, so "drive still in use" shows up.  Stupido!

     

    Maybe I'm the stupid one here and there's a simpler answer than what's been accomplished, but the fix on my system was to go into the external drive and change the app - that's apparently not in use whatsoever - there.  Problem solved here, by changing the oil on my car to fix the flat tire.

  • by CallMeKatie,

    CallMeKatie CallMeKatie Mar 28, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Pumpkin4
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 28, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Pumpkin4

    I was having this same problem even though I had both devices connected to the iCloud. I had connected my macbook air calendar to iCloud, but it didn't pull from my phone. I went in to the settings on my iPhone and down to iCloud. I toggled the calendar on and off from connecting to the iCloud. After about thirty seconds all of my events came up on my laptop.

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